Infantry Base Depots in France, 1914-1918

The abbreviation IBD appears in virtually every infantryman’s service record, yet little is documented about them. This section of the Long, Long Trail will help anyone trying to find out more.

What was an Infantry Base Depot?

The IBD was a holding camp. Situated within easy distance of one the Channel ports, it received men on arrival from England and kept them in training while they awaiting posting to a unit at the front.

“Each infantry division originally had its own IBD, which was established as it crossed to France. Thus 9 IBD would have supported 9th (Scottish) Division and would have supplied reinforcements to all the battalions in it, each regiment represented in the division having its own camp within the IBD. The divisions taking part in the first phase of the Somme had such heavy casualties that their IBDs were unable to bring them back up to strength, which meant calling on other IBDs, with reinforcements often having to change their cap badges as a result. At the beginning of August 1916 a new policy was introduced: each IBD would now be responsible for supplying drafts for all battalions of particular regiments, usually three or four per IBD. Matters changed again in December 1917 when the IBDs were given letter prefixes rather than numbers. Thus, for example 29 IBD became D IBD. The number of IBDs was also reduced and so each was supporting a greater number of regiments. For instance, 29 IBD was largely supplying battalions of the Royal Warwicks, but D IBD looked after nine regiments, including the Warwicks”. Thanks to Charles Messenger for this information

The Infantry Base Depots in France

This table lists the known IBDs in France. It is work in progress, although the information it contains is known to be accurate.

Infantry Base Depot

Location

Notes

1

Le Havre

became A IBD

2

Rouen

became C IBD

3

Rouen

4

Rouen

became J IBD

5

Rouen

6

Rouen

7

Harfleur

8

Le Havre

9

Etaples

10

-

11

Etaples

12

Calais

13

-

14

Etaples

15

Etaples

possibly later at Calais

16 (Irish)

Etaples. Moved to Calais 16 Dec 1917

17

Etaples

became L IBD

18

Etaples

19

Etaples

20

Etaples

21

Etaples

22

-

23

Etaples

24

Etaples

became F IBD

25

Etaples

26

Etaples

27

Etaples

28

Rouen

29

Rouen

became D IBD

30

Etaples

31

Etaples

32

Etaples

33

Etaples

34

Etaples

35

Etaples

36

Harfleur

37

Etaples

38

Etaples

39

Etaples

40

Etaples

became J IBD

41

Etaples

46

Rouen

47

Harfleur

48

Le Havre

49

Le Havre

55

Rouen

56-66

?

63 (RN)

Calais

Guards Division

Harfleur

A

Le Havre

formerly 1 IBD

B

Le Havre

C

Rouen

D

Rouen

formerly 29 IBD

E

?

F

Etaples

G

Etaples

H

Etaples

J

Etaples

formerly 40 IBD

K

Calais

L

Rouen? Calais by May 1918

formerly 17 IBD

M (Scottish)

Calais

Garrison Battalions

Etaples

In November 1918 there existed in France the Guards, A-F, H, J-M, Garrison Battalion, Australian and Canadian IBDs.

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